Moulsham Times - April 2023

MoulshamTimes

Welcome to the April edition.

Due to the the pre-election period, our local councillors will not be writing in the April and May editions. Also, please remember that when you go to vote you will now need photo ID.

The next edition will be out from April 27th. Do please contact us for pricing on advertising and distribution and we can send you a detailed price list.

Regards

Paul

Advertising & Editorial

Paul Mclean 01245 262082/07595 949701 paul@moulshamtimes.com

Disclaimer: It’s Your Magazines Ltd publish the Moulsham Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of It’s Your Magazines Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Magazines Ltd. Reg Co No. 12080535. Printed by Warners (Midlands) PLC.

Chelmsford - By Vicky Ford MP

I recently attended the groundbreaking event for the new Beaulieu Park Station. It is excellent news that construction on this important project is now underway, as the people in the north and east of Chelmsford have waited many decades for a second station.

The new station will mean fewer people driving into central Chelmsford to use the existing station and will also help to reduce congestion around the Army and Navy. The passing loop that the new station provides will enable fast trains to overtake stopping services, improving the reliability of train services for commuters all across the Great Eastern mainline.

green space, especially clearing back undergrowth, CCTV and lighting along the path.

It is good news that our city centre has again been awarded Purple Flag status for safety in the nighttime economy. Though I am concerned about some recent stories about drink spiking in Chelmsford pubs and clubs - it is vital to catch perpetrators and stop this, and it is extremely important that victims come forward promptly if they have been spiked. This enables urine samples to be taken which can be vital evidence to help catch and prosecute perpetrators.

I recently joined members of the Chelmsford and Maldon District Community Policing Team on patrol. I was very pleased to hear about work they are doing to try to improve safety near the bus and rail stations. During our patrol we also visited a number of vape shops in Chelmsford, as there is growing concern from schools about children using vapes. It is not legal to sell or supply a vape to under 18 year olds and the nicotine content in disposable vapes can be very high.

As the weather improves, I have been out knocking on doors - a few people have been asking me about potholes. Essex County Council recently approved a huge £9 million budget to tackle potholes and this has been topped up by a further £5.5 million for Essex potholes from central government in the recent budget. The money is there for repairs, but we do need local councillors to report the worst potholes.

If you have an issue which requires assistance, or if you want to share your views and thoughts with me, please do get in touch with me at vicky.ford.mp@parliament.uk.

This month, I have also met with both the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Chancellor regarding the Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package. As well as a new junction, the package includes improvements to park and ride, bus, pedestrian and cycle routes. This will require a £68 million investment from the government and the decision is now with ministers. I have emphasised the importance of this vital project to local people and our local economy.

In Chelmsford I attended a meeting with police, fire and health leads, as well as representatives from the voluntary sector and Chelmsford City Council. Much progress has been made on improving safety in Chelmsford, largely due to the leadership of our Police Fire and Crime Commissioner in recruiting over 900 more police officers since I became the MP for Chelmsford, and the £550,000 grant that

Pick up the next City Times from 14th April

the commissioner and I helped to secure for Chelmsford under the government’s Safer Streets initiative.

However, there is more that I think we could do. At the meeting I pressed Chelmsford City Council again; they should listen to local people and look again at better safety measures in the Waterson Vale

cooker, but couldn’t imagine it working in the space that they had.

After they met an existing Regal customer, they thought it would be worth a visit to their Chelmsford showroom. They were so impressed with the quality and breadth of products that they asked if they could make an appointment with one of the designers to see what could be done.

They were excited when they realised that by moving the American fridge freezer into the utility they would be able to create a large, family island as well as a range cooker, which

Mr and Mrs C in Wickham Bishops were unhappy with the kitchen that had been in their property since new. The challenge was that it was a fitted kitchen with a standard design, and they couldn’t imagine it any other way. They loved the pictures in brochures with beautiful islands and mantles above a range

complements other appliances from NEFF.

They opted for a beautiful two-tone grey timber kitchen with quartz tops. The ogee on the island has a beautiful softening effect, and with the double butler sink and mantle shelf in conjunction with the polished porcelain floor, the kitchen really has a timeless quality. The icing on the cake is the antique mirror splashback.

Record Store Day Is Coming!

Record Store Day 2023 returns on Saturday 22nd April at Chelmsford’s only independent record shop, Intense Records under the arches by the bus and train stations.

There will be hundreds of limited-edition releases catering for every taste and genre; including artists like Blur, Pearl Jam, Happy Mondays, Fleetwood Mac, The Police, Duran Duran, The Rolling Stones and more - plus a David Bowie 7” box set.

Dance music fans are in for a treat with releases from Future Sound of London, Ed Rushm and Optical - and two releases from The Prodigy, with the Invaders Must Die remixes and a Kasabian v Prodigy single.

The younger generation will be queuing up early for Taylor Swift, The 1975 and Ellie Goulding, while the really young ones will probably be asking mum and dad for Bluey and Peppa Pig.

You can check out what release are coming out on the website at intenserecords.com and submit your wish list there too, so we know what you are after.

Open from 8am-6pm, Intense Records will be holding and in-store event with live DJs, including festival headliners The Freestylers and Bailey from Soul In Motion. There will also be competitions, food stalls, a licensed bar and an after-party at Hot Box.

After the weekend, the releases go on sale online on Monday 24th at 8pm.

For more information, contact Intense Records, 33/34 Viaduct Road, Chelmsford CM1 1TS.

01245 347 372

www.intenserecords.com

This Is What Change Feels Like - By Chris at Forté Physical Health

So it turns out that training for a 100mile race is pretty hard!

Regular readers may know that I am training for a 100-mile ultramarathon, and since doing so, I’ve been so tired!

also like to discuss lifestyle factors - not just to get you out of pain but to live a healthy life with well-being as a priority.

If you want to learn more, go to fortephysicalhealth.co.uk, or you can say ‘hi’ at info@fortephysicalhealth.co.uk.

And hungry.

Tired and hungry...

That sums me up in a nutshell.

I was so shattered at the beginning of the plan that I did a blood test with Thriva to check under the hood.

Thankfully everything came back fine, so I just realised that, yep; training for a hundred miles is hard. As someone who can’t run one hundred miles but wants to run a hundred miles, the transition between the two takes a lot of work.

I will be tired, and I will be hungry. It’s just how it is. That’s what change feels like.

I realised that this applies to everything in life.

As an example, I’d like to ask you a question; how much effort does it take to stay the weight you are? None! You buy the same foods, you cook the same way, you eat the same stuff. No thought is needed, and your weight stays the same. But what if you want to change your weight? You may need to read a book, listen to podcasts, make new habits, learn to cook new dishes, acquire new tastes. It’s hard! But it’s the only way to change.

What if your trusty osteopath has told you that your recurring back pain is due to weak hips? It requires zero effort for your hips to stay the same strength, but to make a change, those exercises need to get done. We’re all busy, and Netflix is oh-so enticing, so fitting the exercises in can be challenging. But finding a way is the only path to improving your back.

What about shoulder pain? You’ve been told that it’s linked to too much desk work and not getting up often enough to move. The fix sounds easy, but it takes mental and physical work to remind yourself to break the cycle and get up and stretch. It’s tricky!

As I go through my training plan (and am slowly reaping the fruits of my labour), I’m finding that we need to embrace the discomfort. To enjoy the struggle.

Our brain is a survival machine forged by millions of years of evolution. It wants to keep us safe, it wants to keep us comfortable.

This helped us when we were roaming the plains, but in our modern world, comfort might just be the biggest enemy to progress.

As I approach 15 years of being an osteopath, I have become fascinated with the psychology of habit forming. Health is so simple, but it’s not easy. You know what to do to be healthy, but getting it done is the hard bit.

Change is hard. But maybe we need to embrace that to make the progress we desire?

What do you need to change to improve your well-being? And is the answer lying on the other side of some struggle? I have a feeling it is...

If pain and injury are holding you back, we can help in my clinic. We

MT Gardening

As we move towards the end of March and the start of April, take care as it is forecast to be frosty first thing. Any young plants going outside need to be properly hardened off, or more likely brought back in to protect them from any form of damage to young growth. Alternatively, have horticultural fleece to hand and bring planted containers to a wall for additional insulation from the cold. This is even more crucial for veg and fruit growers. If you have early flowering fruit such as cherries and nectarines, their flowers will need protecting from frosts to ensure a good crop later in the year. During the day, the covers must be raised to enable access for pollinators.

The other day I was cleaning and removing weeds, followed by a good depth of well rotted organic matter as a mulch - this year, I

have used leaf mould, the latest batch of which I have been developing for around 2 years. Leaf mould, as the name suggests, is composed of leaves from deciduous trees and shrub species. In addition, I have also been adding thin layers of grass clippings to give me to ultimately give me a bulky material which is:

• Open fibrous structure, aesthetically pleasing.

• Variable pH, usually acidic but may be alkaline in some cases.

• Pleasant to handle.

• Low nutrient levels.

• Suitable for improving soil structure and mulching.

Organic mulches give us gardeners the added bonus of:

• Conserving soil moisture by cutting down the amount of water lost by evaporation from the soil surface.

• Suppression of weed growth: Many annual and seedling perennial weeds can be prevented from growing and weed seeds are less likely to germinate if covered with a thick layer of mulch - a depth of around 5cm to 7cm is optimum.

• Even-out the soil temperature fluctuations, helping soil to remain cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

• Protection of soil structure from capping, acting as a physical barrier preventing damage by heavy rain or coarse sprinklers.

Leaf mould is relatively easy to develop. I created a bay using 4 old tree posts creating a large square. Around 3 sides I then stapled chicken wire leaving the front open. I then piled in leaves from autumn and early spring and added any grass clippings. It wasn’t turned or covered - just left to decompose. Using this material rather than general garden composts means I have fairly low numbers of weed seeds germinating once added to beds and borders.

Other suitable materials could be chipped or shredded bark, spent mushroom compost (if you can find it locally), composted straw, composted green waste, green manure waste and as a last resort garden compost.

Lastly, for the rest of March consider looking at the following tasks: If you haven’t started to mow, best get out and take a look at that lawn of yours - I bet the grass has become a little longer over the last week. To avoid any damage to your mower, it is incredibly important to only mow your lawn during dryer spells. This will also encourage grasses to become bushy and thereby create a lush heathy looking sward. It will also help to eliminate unwanted weeds.

• Aim to mow regularly, so you only need to remove a small amount each time - never take off more than one-third of the grass height.

• As a general rule, aim to keep the grass at the following heights: 13–25mm (½–1in) in summer, and up to 40mm (1½in) in spring and autumn for ordinary domestic lawns, and 6–13mm (¼–½in) for fine lawns.

• In addition to mowing, green up your lawn with a suitable high nitrogen based feed. Follow the instructions carefully in terms of rates per m².

• Tidy up alpines as they start to flower, removing dead foliage, then mulch with grit to keep the foliage off damp soil.

• Continue to prune out any wind-damaged branches on trees and shrubs.

Here’s a sneak preview for next month www.rhs.org.uk/advice/inmonth/APRIL.

Happy gardening

For any gardening tips please contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Capel Manor College, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RR or send an email to, tom.cole@capel.ac.uk.

bringing dementia carers together

About Us

We are a charity that aims to offer support and friendship through in a peer network of dementia carers and to anyone who has experienced living with a loved one with dementia.

We are a regional project and stay connected through an online group chat and we plan our activities and events together providing a much-needed sense of community.

Caregiving for someone with dementia can be complex and challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Nick Garner’s Music & Ramblings

Well what a month, the weather has been crazy! As I am writing this it is quite warm thankfully. We have also now lost an hour with the clocks going forward.

We have Easter upon us early this year and we have the King’s Cornation coming up and a whole heap of bank holidays - but sadly still no new bank holidays towards the end of the year.

I see we have our local elections shortly, so please do make sure that you use your vote if you are eligible.

There seems to be lots of local festivals on the way including our very own Chelmsford Festival with its carnival parade. This festival is going from strength to strength thanks to Edith and Tony. I am sorry I started it and left it to you both, but you do a grand job! Concrete Canvas is also returning which just makes our city more beautiful.

There is of course lots more going on in and around Chelmsford, you only have to look in our sister magazine The City Times at the What’s

On guide - you can also go online and look at relevant social media pages.

If you have anything you think that maybe of interest please do email Paul; his contact details for this publication are on page three.

Music

We have some great shows coming up, starting with a celebration and tribute to the late Jeff Beck at the Chelmsford Social Club on Good Friday 7th April. Then it is my first show for 2023 at Hot Box on Tuesday 11th April where I will be bringing two of Finland’s finest folk acts to Chelmsford. Tickets are limited and just £10 each, so prebook by calling or texting 07508 496 411 - you can also do this for any of my shows at Hot Box or Chelmsford Social Club.

We have Robbie McIntosh playing with his band at the Social Club on Friday 21st April, and then on the Saturday afternoon from 2.30pm he and his buddy Steve will play an acoustic show. If you have seen his acoustic perfomances before you will already know how different it is from the band show and just how good it is. With the passing of Jeff Beck, Robbie is now regarded as about the best there is. I would recommend both shows, but if you can’t do both, then do try to make at least one of them.

We then have Take It Easy with their American Classic Rock Show, playing everything from Fleetwood Mac to Tom Petty, and from Bruce Springsteen to The Eagles, and The Doors to Lynyrd Skynyrd and so much more.

We have just had the 3foot People and Fling Cabaret Extravagasm events in Central Park. I went to the Fling part and loved it, as did everyone else who was there - so thank you to Liam Rich, who started it all many years back, for returning to do it again. It was the most wonderful fun-filled event and put a great big smile on the faces of those who saw it. I heard that the 3foot People event was also great, but sadly marred by the rain - but the park will recover. These events were always best in Central Park I think, if not for just ease of access, but also good to have such events in the centre of the city.

We have already had some great shows so far and I have plenty more lined up to put on and to go and see. Also, if you like your rock and roll, do check out Nine Lives Rock and Roll who also put on shows at Chelmsford Social Club.

You may have noticed that both the Star and Garter and Bay Horse are open again and both are putting on live music as well as being good watering holes. The Star and Garter also sees the return of the Sunday Jam Session from 4pm, which I love and I hope you do also.

Take a look at any Black Frog Presents adverts in here to see some of the amazing acts that are coming to play at the Chelmsford Social Club and at Hot Box.

If you have anything you think that could be of interest to our readers for either publication, then please let us know by emailing editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk - it maybe an event or a topic of interest. Or have you done anything unusual or are you planning something? If so, we want to know about it. If you know of someone who may wish to advertise with us, then please ask them to contact ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk and we can send over full details.

Also the Summer Beer Festival is returning to Admirals Park in July from Tuesday 11th to Saturday 15th July. Although it will be smaller, I am sure it will be well-received and welcomed back.

Sunday 28th May sees the return of Ride London and Essex for their 10th anniversary. This will create temporary road closures, so do check the website as the dates get nearer. Of course you may wish to take part in it, as they have various rides ranging from 30 miles, 60 miles to 100 miles. The 60 and 100 mile rides take in the Essex countryside and there are many charities who you could help raise much needed funds for if you take part.

You can get tickets for all our shows in Chelmsford from Intense Records, Hopsters and Chelmsford 4Good - please pay cash in person when you buy. Tickets are also available online from www. wegottickets.com/BlackFrogPresents, or via our ticket hotline at no extra charge - call or text 07508 496 411 and you can then pay the advance price on entry to the show rather than the walk-up price.

For all Black Frog Presents gig updates and information go www. linktr.ee/BlackFrogPresents, or scan the QR code in the poster in this magazine.

It would be fantastic if you could share our magazines The City Times and Moulsham Times for us. We continue to publish both magazines online as well at www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia.

Cocaine Bear

What a way to kick things off. I almost hesitate to comment because many people seemed to enjoy themselves with this film. However, for anyone who trusts my take, I thought it was lazy scriptwriting and very inconsistent.

Had it been a clearly ridiculous comedy throughout, then I might have had a different verdict, but instead it kind of dithered between a few genres. It was listed as a thriller but there were very few scenes of palpable tension, just a bear on cocaine actually creeping up behind people.

Having said that, it was sometimes funny and a nice easy watch that might cap off a busy day.

37/100

Tár

A film about a composer and the distractions that threaten to throw her off her game. One of my favourite things it did was dodge every cliché I was expecting for a film about performance. No overdoing the renditions, no obvious finale, it spent more time explaining music and the role of a composer and it made for compelling dialogue.

One of the most subtle and effective acting performances I’ve seen. Not full of face twisting, floods of tears and angry soliloquies, just flickers of joy, passion and some superb passive-aggressiveness. Realism.

It opens up an itch of curiosity in a niche you’d never thought about, then gives it a bloody good scratch.

87/100

Scream 6

So much fun. The cheesy action is preserved from the 90s, all with better cameras and SFX. The ridiculousness is sometimes a bit limiting in terms of the immersion, but it was consistent.

The best way to compare it is with the 2018 Halloween reboot. They paid excellent homage to their predecessors while introducing the new rather than a rendition of the old.

78/100

Champions

A film about basketball players with intellectual disabilities and a pro coach taking over their practice. We’ve seen the bulk of that formula before haven’t we...

I’m usually resistant to films that try extremely hard to feel wholesome, unless it’s good of course. It did work some good avenues around the topic of intellectual disabilities and there were some nice subplots.

I didn’t think the comedy was consistent, nor the story, but it had its moments. It was also far too long considering what it had to tell.

34/100

Creed 3

I wasn’t a massive fan of the original film, which makes the fact I loved this one a huge compliment.

Every trial and test this film faced, it passed. How can boxing be original after so many films? ‘Woah cool choice’. How do we create conflict without one character being a clear antagonist? ‘Bravo!’. Jonathan Majors was the highlight; he had screen presence and acted marvellously.

78/100

A lot of people will have issues with this kind of film because the plot is silly, full of cracks and it’s an action film. Everyone knows action films are usually stupid.

But so are films like Predator, but that paved the way for optimistic action and escapism without too many constraints like reality and continuity. So I watched this optimism.

I think despite these cracks it was a lot of fun. The action was very well conceptualised and some ideas were truly unique. That and the fact that it was set in the Cretaceous period with dinosaurs excited me.

Similar review to Plane (but considerably better) in that I won’t think about it much but in the theatre - it was a great time.

72/100

Shazam: Fury of the Gods

If your patience for cinematic universe superhero movies hasn’t run out then you’ll love this. Mostly because it’s exactly the same. Very easy to watch and good special effects. I had SOME fun.

Comedy was also better than what Marvel have been excreting, so that’s a plus.

38/100

Allelujah

A love letter to the NHS and tireless workers, and it did a grand job at that gesture. The comedy was old-school British, which will appeal to a great deal of you. There were also some emotionally strong moments with some old veteran actors.

I found most of it a bit snoozy though. Felt like 100 minutes of a soap opera but with confusing choices.

26/100

Rye Lane

A breath of fresh air. I loved the style, the comedy and the cinematography. This is the director’s first feature film and I hope she keeps this style because it was addicting to watch.

However the story was lukewarm and I found one of the characters to be a bit too submerged in the ‘quirkiness’. This did feel like a big drawback to what was otherwise a joy.

76/100

henrygodfreyevans@gmail.com

Widford Lodge Through the Ages

Many of you may never have heard of Widford Lodge. We are a small independent school tucked away on Widford Road, so I thought it would be nice to share a brief history of the Lodge.

The parish of Widford encompassed a small area of farm land between Chelmsford and Writtle along the River Wid; an 1881 map of the area shows 5 significant buildings in the parish - Hylands House, Widford Hall, The Work House (St John’s Hospital) St Mary’s Church and Widford Lodge. There was a pub, The White Horse (now Indian Night), a village shop and a village school, a café and a garage. Reading through old information, the village really did have its own identity and community feel.

At that time the Widford Lodge estate was much larger and had many acres of land for farming and grazing. This extended to Writtle Road and parts of New London Road and ownership of some of the properties.

Looking at the Census for 1848, 1863 and 1874, Widford Lodge was owned by Mr Charles Chevely.

In 1890 there was an incident: a maid that was cleaning the attic had a fall and unfortunately died as the result of her injuries. I wonder if it is her ghost we hear bumping about upstairs when we work late?

In 1910, the grounds of Widford Lodge were used for a bazaar and fête to raise funds for the village hall. This was hosted by Mr Andrew Marriage who was living at Widford Lodge.

In the early 1930s the house was owned by the Boake family, and they used to host a firework party for the village. Looking at old sales catalogues we can see that the estate came up for sale in 1888 and then again in 1933, although this time with a reduced amount of acreage and properties. Then in 1934 Widford Lodge was up for sale again, this time with just the house and about 1 acre of land which was purchased by Mr H Witham, the founder and headmaster of Widford Lodge School.

Initially the school provided preparatory education for boys from 614 years and at that time it was a boarding school for 80 students. As well as formal lessons, there were a wide selection of sports to take part in - these included cricket, rugby, football, swimming, badminton, table tennis and boxing. Mr Witham was the headmaster and his wife looked after the domestic side of the school.

During the Second World War, the majority of students were evacuated to Somerset and the Ambulance Corps used Widford Lodge. Mr Witham was in charge and had the honour of meeting the then Duke of Kent when he came to visit. The remaining students still

had lessons, and during air raids used the basement as a shelter.

After the war, things returned to normal and the children returned. In fact the school began to thrive and extra room was needed. Mr Witham purchased a Nissen hut that was no longer required and had this installed as the hall and classroom in 1948 - and it still remains today...

Mr Witham passed away quite suddenly in 1948, and Mrs Witham ran the school from 1948 -1963, appointing a selection of headteachers. Then in 1963 their son Henry took over the reins and became headmaster and his wife Sally took over the domestic side of things. In 1985 the school admitted pre-prep boys aged 4 -7 years and by the end of the 1980s the school became a day school. In the early 1990s, the school became a co-educational day school for 2½11 year olds, and that is how the school has remained.

In 1996, Mr and Mrs Witham retired and Mr Trowell became headmaster. Then when he retired in 2018 Miss Cole took over as headteacher.

The school still remains in the ownership of the Witham family. We have Pre-school that takes children from 2½ years, then we have Reception, through to Form 6 - and we currently have 234 students.

Although additional buildings have been added over the years, the house remains much the same. The school’s ethos and core values are still as they were when the school was founded all those years ago. Miss Cole and the staff ensure that the school provides a rounded education for all the children who attend.

Our Independent School Inspectorate report in 2022 rated the school as ‘Excellent’, which is a reflection of the hard work and passion of Miss Cole and the dedicated team who work at the school - long may it continue!

Blesma, the Limbless Veterans Charity

The First World War led to the birth of nearly 18,000 charities, of which just 10 still exist today. Blesma is one.

Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, who’s head office is located in Chelmsford, is dedicated to assisting serving and ex-service men and women who have suffered the loss of limbs or the loss of use of a limb or limbs, an eye or loss of sight, either during or after service. We support these men and women in their communities throughout the UK. We work tirelessly for our members when the conflicts that have affected their lives are no longer a focal point in the nation’s media.

wheelchairs, stair lifts and home and garden adaptations so that they can remain mobile and independent in their own homes for as long as possible.

Employment

Since our inception, Blesma has campaigned successive governments for equal employment rights, opportunities and practices. Today, we still strive to help members find fulfilling employment.

Independent Advocacy

We believe prosthetics and provision should meet the needs of every individual member. Our advocacy networking to local and national representatives ensures this is the case.

Since 1932, we have been the only national service charity that supports limbless veterans for the duration of their lives. Our members range from the youngest amputee veterans to those who fought in WWII - some having lived with limb loss for more than half a century. Modern medicine may have come a long way since then, but there is still a vital need for Blesma to support the younger generations and their families who have survived complex trauma injuries and will need our specialised support as they face the long journey ahead.

Fellowship

Members have been supporting their fellow members since the very first days of Blesma. This lies at the heart of what we do and allows us to draw upon a shared knowledge base of experience - of traumatic injury, recuperation and eventual stability. Our offer goes beyond fellowship though, so our expert welfare team offer precise professional support when it is needed.

Prosthetics

Blesma does not generally pay for members’ prosthetics, but we do help prosthetists develop their skills at undergraduate and PhD level. We also work closely with the NHS to ensure the latest advances in the relevant medical fields are converted into practical solutions that can benefit all our members, and often the civilian population. Our dedicated BSO (prosthetics) stays abreast of the latest developments in the field, liaising across multiple organisations to transform the latest technological advances into practical solutions for our membership.

Advice

We are experts in the War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), as well as a whole range of other allowances. Our team of Blesma Support Officers offer advice and assistance on applications for entitlements, benefits and allowances. They also aid our members and widows at War Pension Tribunals and AFCS hearings.

Grants

We offer our members financial assistance with the additional costs and hardships of disability. We regularly contribute to the provision of

Members’ Activities

Staying active after injury is essential to continued health and well-being. Our activities and courses range from the cerebral to the adrenaline-fuelled and are specifically tailored to our members’ needs.

How You Can Help

This May, we are asking supporters to Bake for Blesma and sell their creations to raise funds for our wounded veterans. By hosting your own baking event this 1st - 8th May, covering the King’s Coronation weekend and VE Day. You can enjoy an afternoon tea spread whilst also supporting our veterans to lead independent and fulfilling lives.

When you sign up, you will receive a Blesma pack full of everything you need to make your bake sale a success; coke toppers, bunting, fundraising tips, balloons, collection box and most importantly recipes from our injured veterans.

For more information or to sign up, visit blesma.org/support-us/ find-an-event/events/bake-for-blesma-2023 or email fundraising@ blesma.org or call 020 8548 7089.

Local Homeless Charity Having Funding Issues

Sanctus is a charity based in Chelmsford that has been supporting local homeless and vulnerable people for over 10 years from its 3-story building in Baddow Road. Up until November last year it was open 7 days a week 365 days a year.

Unfortunately, due to rising fuel prices, cost of living increases and a reduction in personal and corporate donations, the trustees were forced to have to come to the decision to close the doors to service users at weekends. The hope is that the measure will be temporary, but it’s meant they have had to redouble their efforts to reduce costs and bring new revenue in.

are some wonderful people in Chelmsford who regularly support the charity, both financially and via volunteering. In fact, Sanctus couldn’t survive without the fabulous generosity of volunteers.

So, what is it that they do at Sanctus?

The Café

On the ground floor of the building (which used to be a bank back in the day) is where the café is based, and is set up like most cafés with a serving counter, tea and coffee facilities and enough tables and chairs to seat around 60 people.

The café provides hot drinks all day, serves a basic breakfast (cereals, toast etc) in the morning, and a different hot meal every day freshly prepared onsite by trained chefs and volunteers. They also make sure that they serve the food direct to the table. It’s amazing how much this does for the customers’ self-esteem and confidence.

The customers are not charged a penny for this food, drink or shelter. The café offers an environment for anyone to come into, where they can feel safe, secure and wanted, and also offers a sense of community for people who are often mostly on their own, or who live in environments that are not in any way friendly.

The Hub

The Hub lies on the second and third floors and is where the people can come and use a variety of services tailored to help them get their lives back on track. This can be anything from helping with mental health issues, drug and alcohol addiction problems, domestic abuse, or helping any vulnerable person to overcome the myriad of problems they may be facing.

Although not offering accommodation within the building, they also find new flats/houses for homeless individuals and families. Often these will be single parents who have been battling domestic abuse. Outside agencies also use The Hub to provide much-needed services direct to their users. Examples are pop-up banks, health care checks, addiction clinics and a variety of mental health support services.

100% of Sanctus’ funding comes from personal, local corporates and fundraising activities. The charity also submits regular bids to large charitable trusts - though these trusts have been inundated since covid and support for Ukraine, so success rates have fallen. There

How Can You Help?

There are several ways you can help Sanctus - by donating money, or time by volunteering, or with items such as food, toiletries and tents. Or you can follow Sanctus on social media and sharing their posts to spread the word. Maybe take a tour of Sanctus to see the work in person. Finally, if you have a business or work for a company that has a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy, then we would love to work with you.

Sanctus is a relatively unknown oasis of hope for the vulnerable of Chelmsford. With any luck, and with the help and support of the people of Chelmsford, they will soon be back supporting vulnerable people 7 days a week.

How Can People Help Specifically?

Donate money: This can be in the form of a lump sum payment or a regular direct debit (always remember to add gift aid if applicable). You can do this via the website at sanctus-home.com.

Donate items: Look out on Sanctus social media (www.facebook. com/SanctusCharity) for what the charity needs at any particular time. Follow and share social media posts to spread the word. Volunteer: You can sign up to volunteer on the charity’s website. There’s also a video on the site that gives even more insight into what the charity does.

Corporate funding: If you own, or work for a company that has Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within the company ethos, you can work with Sanctus to achieve those goals via funding, becoming a Sanctus sponsor, or employee volunteer days.

Take the tour: Sanctus always welcomes the chance to show people what it is the charity does and how it is an essential part of the support network for the vulnerable of Chelmsford. If you’d like a tour, just contact Sanctus via the website or social media, or email info@sanctus-home. com, or call 01245 257 985.

sanctus-home.com www.facebook.com/ SanctusCharity info@sanctus-home. com

01245 257 985

Hello to you all. I hope you are well. As I write this, it’s 15 degrees outside, but colder weather is being forecast for the next few days. I don’t mind March too much, as I know it is now technically spring, so the weather will be improving...

The planned road and housing construction around the city is becoming a reality. The new road at the Boreham interchange looks spectacular, though the bridge looks a bit steep to me, but perhaps it will be better when the road is completed. I think it’s because the bridge stops in mid air, so looks a bit high. Other areas include the developments around the Sandon Park and Ride as well various other sites such as the Army and Navy. We are living in developing city, that’s for sure.

I see that a zoo in Kent is allowing people to pay £1.50 to name a cockroach. Yes, one of those nasty insects that seem to turn up all over the place and appear indestructible. It is suggested the people might name them after an ex-partner, but that sounds a little creepy to me. I can think of lots of people who I would call one after, none of whom are friends of mine.

Another report is on a study carried out on flamingos. Apparently they form friendship groups. I’m guessing this is with other flamingos and not different birds, or humans. They form cliques of like-minded individuals. Two groups were studied, Caribbean and Chilean, and it seems they stayed within these groups - which is not surprising as they must speak different languages. It would be extremely difficult to get them together without some language tuition, I think...

A couple of observations here: Apparently experts did not travel to South America to do the study, it was carried out in wetlands in the West Country, a missed opportunity in my view. My question is, why did they do it and were the results published on Twitter?

TV adverts are still amusing me, though not sure ‘amusing’ is the right word. One of the latest I have noticed is for a large supermarket chain, where people are coming out of the shop with a very scary grins on their faces. I have yet to understand what this means. Is it that they are pleased to finish their shopping, or is it actually a grimace as a result of the soaring price of the goods inside? I am constantly surprised by the increasing cost of food - some goods are increasing by large percentages. I know crispy snacks are not essential, but I do like to have a packet with my lunch, but the ones I like have increased in price by 29%. Time to stop snacking - at least this should have a positive impact on my health, as well as my wallet.

Like many people I am getting increasingly concerned about scams and identity theft. I try to keep alert and not be tempted to open emails that I don’t trust. Recently however, I received a mail from a credit card company which opened with ‘Dear Florence’ and went on to explain some aspects of the service they provide, It did not ask for any banking or personal information, so I just ignored it. Later that day, I received a second email from the same source apologising for the first mail, and explaining that while the mail was genuine, the system picked up the wrong name. I must admit, I had worried that I had changed gender and not noticed.

I read a newspaper most days and have to agree with a friend of mine and with the Mail’s Richard Littlejohn that we seem to be going to ‘hell in a handcart’. This can’t be a new thing, as the origin of this phrase goes back in history and I think means something similar to Private Frazer (of Dad’s Army fame) shouting ‘we’re all doomed!’ Well perhaps not that bad, but hopefully you get my drift.

Every day something new is reported and when I think it cannot get any worse, it does. Most of it is more unbelievable rather than

frightening, but I am constantly amazed at the decisions made by large organisations or the government. The latest one is Oxfam. While I admire their humanitarian work around the world, I am not convinced that money, which I presume is from donations, should be used to produce a tome designed to divert their staff away from using terms like ‘mother’ or ‘father’. Instead, the word ‘parent’ should be used, for example. I just don’t get it. In the words of the great Terry Wogan, ‘is it me?’

I am of a certain age where I look back to some of the old radio and television shows and miss them. I know the past always seems better in this respect, but I struggle to find much on these days that seems to compare. I know that there are some good programmes, but to me they are in the minority.

Radio shows like Round the Horn and The Navy Lark were brilliant, the former being quite risqué for its time. I am not sure what today’s listeners would make of them, though. I guess a lot of these are available on the internet, so I must try to find them. Hopefully, I will not be disappointed.

Bin End Chuckles (More Tim jokes)

I had a dream last night that I was cutting carrots with the Grim Reaper - dicing with death..!

The advantages of easy origami are two-fold...

Stay well and enjoy the upcoming spring.

CCR Latest News

Time flies when you are busy doesn’t it? Work is going on for the forthcoming radio drama festival and details are being slotted into place. We will share those as soon as we can.

If you happen to be passing through the Meadows shopping centre, you might spot the giant radio is now in place near the Backnang Square entrance and is playing out our station during centre opening hours. Do take the opportunity to get some selfies and send them in (we might even share them on our social media feeds).

In other news, did you know our presenters like to mention events that are happening in our city? So if you have got something you’d like added to the list then do send us the details. You can contact us via admin@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com, or via @chelmsfordcr on Facebook or Twitter.

You can tune in to Chelmsford Community Radio on 104.4FM in the city, online at www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com and also on the CCR104.4 app which is available to download.

Grove Road Evangelical Church

Why do Christians still celebrate Easter? After all, no educated person in this scientific age can possibly believe in life after death, let alone a man defeating death and coming back to life again!

There are many Christians who would agree with that view. It’s just a myth - a made up story. It might be a nice story, but it’s not true in any real-world, scientific sense. Then there are others who would say that the story was ‘true’, but not in any physical, real-world sense. It was a spiritual event - whatever they mean by that!

But what if the Easter story is not a myth? What if it is a true history of real-world events? There is no doubt that the earliest Christians believed it to be real in that sense.

A man, who was more than just a man, really died, put to death by public execution by the Roman Empire in or around 30AD. Three days later he really came back to life again and that too was witnessed by large numbers of people whose lives were radically changed by the

impact of meeting Jesus again after seeing him die, after burying him. Not only did the impact of meeting the risen Jesus transform their lives, in due course it transformed the whole world - and continues to do so.

We would love you all to come and join us on Easter Sunday. You might even make the most amazing discovery of your life, that death is not the end if you put your faith in the one who has conquered death.

We meet on Sunday mornings at 11am. We look forward to seeing you, especially on Easter Sunday, April 9th

Philip Loose, Senior Pastor Grove Road Evangelical Church (behind Tesco Express, Moulsham Street)

www.grecuk.co.uk pastor@grecuk.co.uk

MT History: Battle of Grand Port Mauritius

- By Henri Lewi

On the island of Île de la Passe at the entrance to the Grand Port on the east coast of Mauritius, is an abandoned fort that played a small part in the recapture of Mauritius from the French during the Napoleonic Wars. On many of the abandoned stone blockhouses and stores are numerous engraved graffiti inscribed by the soldiers who served as part of the garrison in the fort, some of which relate to the time spent by members of the 56th Regiment of Foot (West Essex) who served there as part of the Mauritian Garrison.

The Battle of Grand Port in August 1810 was the only sea battle of the Napoleonic Wars that was lost by Britain as they attempted to block and capture the French ships that had taken refuge in the bay. The aim of securing Grand Port on the Isle de France (which we now call Mauritius) was to secure the important sea routes between India and Great Britain as ships of the East India Company sailed from Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata) via the Indian Ocean round the tip of South Africa onward to the home ports.

Both the islands of Île de Bourbon (Reunion) and Isle de France (Mauritius) lying in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa some 500 miles to the east of Madagascar, were separated by 100 miles with Reunion lying to the south west of Mauritius. These two islands, both being French possessions at the time, were important naval bases for the ships of the French navy who were able to attack with impunity the heavily laden ships of the East India Company sailing from Indian ports. In July 1810, a strong British force under the joint command of Commodore Josias Rowley and Colonel Henry Keating successfully landed and very quickly took the island of Reunion, which remained under British rule until it was returned to France in 1814. Interestingly, Reunion is still a department of France and as such remains within the European Union.

Attention was now turned to the Isle de France and an attempt was made in August 1810 to block the Eastern Grand Port where French ships sheltered before sailing out on their raids on British merchantmen in the Indian Ocean. The blockade by 4 British frigates failed, as 4 of 5 French frigates of their Indian Ocean Squadron slipped into the Grand Port to take shelter.

A British landing party successfully took the fort of Île de Passé overlooking the bay of Grand Port, but in the ensuing battle failed to play an effective role. The entrance to the bay was guarded by sandbanks and shallow passages and the British squadron, eschewing the use of a local pilot to guide them into the harbour, grounded two of their frigates on the sandbanks. A further frigate was severely damaged by French guns and subsequently captured, and the fourth frigate was captured by the French as it tried to sail away

from Grand Port. This defeat of the British navy left the Indian Ocean again wide open to attacks by French raiding parties. This was the only French naval victory that is celebrated as a naval engagement inscribed amongst the numerous French victories on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

In late November 1810, a strong British force under the overall command of Admiral Albermarle Bertie consisting of 22 ships of Bertie’s naval squadron and almost 7,000 British troops landed in the north of the island of Mauritius, and by the 3rd of December the French forces had capitulated and Mauritius was subsequently garrisoned by British troops as a British colony well into the 20th century. Mauritius remained a British colony until its independence in 1968.

E for Easter, Chocolate Eggs Galore, E for Ease of Movement at Any Age - Even in Your E…ighties!

I hope you enjoyed last month’s article answering some common questions highlighting flexibility, stability, mobility and core strength - terms strongly related to pilates. I thought I’d put a spotlight on mobility, expanding the discussion on creating better, easier movement in your day-to-day life, specifically if youre feeling the effects of aging. For those who didn’t see last month’s piece, ‘mobility’ in the pilates context isn’t just how we move as a whole, it refers to the range of movement at our joints, from each vertebrae in our back to the big ball and socket of our shoulders and hips. Feeling stiff often comes from poor mobility, tight muscles around joints restricting whole areas - eg, tight back muscles reducing lower to upper back and even neck mobility.

Those who have followed me for a while will have seen that I regularly mention that theres no prerequisite for anyone wanting to try pilates - it’s the most injury-friendly exercise, and there are plenty of ways to modify every exercise, so it really is suitable for all! Knowing that the creator Mr Joseph Pilates was a physical therapist, we can trust that his ideas were so body-friendly that they were suitable for any age, even well into the later years - excellent for when we start to feel the effects of ‘age’.

It’s maybe a taboo subject, but what does it mean to start in your later years? Of course changes in hormones, slowed metabolism, blood pressure management, our body’s ability to repair after exertion, are all natural and a part of aging. The significance of each and considerations when starting structured exercise again should always be discussed with your GP, but when it comes to creating easier day-to-day movements, it can be as simple as making sure the body is having regular practise moving each joint as it should move (see my suggestions below).

Starting pilates after a hiatus, whether that’s been a few years or over a decade, we need to make considerations on what our body is comfortable with - especially considering joints: weight bearing on the wrists and knees, joint replacements, arthritis (where you may have more stiffness and pain than normal we can sit rather than stand and use cushions under our hands and knees), and hysterectomy or prostate problems can cause pelvic inflammation, so it may be necessary to learn how to use pelvic floor again.

All good qualified instructors will make sure everything is safe for you. Pilates movements are all about improving natural efficiency, improving functional movement, so you can see improvements in the simplest of things, from putting on your shoes with your hands, not a shoe horn, walking up the stairs without needing a banister, to getting in and out of a car without ‘ooh’, ‘arghh’, ‘oompf’ noises.

Finding ease of mobility at each joint can start right here...

Neck: Sit or stand, imagine paint on tip of your nose, paint large slow circles in the air, repeat 5x each way.

Shoulders: Put fingers on shoulders, paint big circles with your elbows, repeat 5x each way.

Wrists: Twinkle star stretches - create a tight fist and curl the hand to the foream, open the fist wide stretch fingers, palm, wrist as far as it can, repeat 5x each hand.

Upper back: Seated or standing extension, hands on lower back, deep breath in lifting chin and chest as though an opera singer about to sing. Breathe out tuck chin to chest, repeat 5x times.

Lower back: Standing, holding on if needed, pretend to ‘hula’ the waist in slow big circles, repeat 5x each way.

Hips: Open the gate - stand tall holding on if needed, one foot on tip toes, pivot knee to open to the side like opening a little gate, then close touching the other knee. Add balance: lift foot 6 inches from floor swing knee open to side then close again, repeat 5x times each leg.

Knees: Standing single leg kicks - hold on, stretch one leg behind you, try kicking your bottom repeat 5x times each leg.

Ankles: Seated, point toes, flex back up opening arch, repeat 5x times each foot.

To chat to us at Hummingbird Pilates and Yoga about helping your movement through pilates, don’t hesitate - say you’ve read my article in the Moulsham Times and call 01245 422 556, or email info@ hummingbirdpilatesyoga.co.uk.

At Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga Writtle, www.hummingbirdpilates. co.uk our £45 unlimited month trial, is our most popular way to start (excluding antenatal and postnatal). With our specialist group classes (8 maximum), you don’t need to have any experience - just a willingness to try - for all levels and ages* either in-studio or you can opt to join on via Zoom from anywhere.

*don’t try anything if you have a back injury or are on medication.

See you on the mat soon!

Erica x

Back to Basics for Cool to be Kind

Back to basics for Cool to be Kind (C2BK), the community project supporting rough sleepers of Chelmsford, as they proudly join forces with the much-valued outreach organisation Warm Hearts for Cold Hands. Outreach is where it all started for C2BK and supporting Warm Hearts will ensure that the outreach service outside Chelmsford library on a Wednesday evening continues. If you have donations of clothes, sleeping bags, or personal items, please contact C2BK (www.c2bk.co.uk/contact).

Donations can also be given through Street Support Chelmsford, a directory of help services, aimed at those experiencing homelessness, the vulnerable, or the everyday person choosing between putting food on the table or paying the energy bill. As a community, we can come together to support those in need.

If there are any organisations or community groups that wish to be added to the site, or any individuals or businesses wishing to help, please contact chelmsford@streetsupport.net.

Carbs - How Low Can You Go? - By

Ola

Adamolekun

Back in the summer of 2021, one of my clients asked me about the keto diet with a view to trying it out. Even though I’d heard of keto, I didn’t know that much about it so decided to sign up for a 2 week challenge, and for the first ever I was introduced to my abdominal muscles! I had a budding 4 pack!

I know this article is about low carb, but I found out about the low carb way of eating by doing keto first. So, what is a low carbohydrate diet? I’ll start by telling you what it isn’t. People on the standard western diet (that’s you and I) can consume 250 grammes or more per day- that is definitely not low carb! A low carbohydrate diet is one which limits the amount of carbohydrates consumed. There is an emphasis on non-starchy and unrefined carbohydrates.

According to dietdoctor.com, ‘a low carb diet is one that limits carbohydrates, primarily found in sugary foods, pasta, and bread. Instead of eating carbs, you focus on protein-rich whole foods and vegetables’ - and diabetes.uk says ‘the total amount of carbs you consume in a day is less than 130g’.

1. Weight loss.

2. It puts diabetes type 2 or prediabetes into remission.

3. Reduces sugar cravings.

4. It’s simple to follow.

So, what can you eat on a low carb diet? Meat, fish, eggs, vegetables that grow above ground and natural fats. Now, we’ve been led to believe that fats are the enemy and low fat foods became very popular in the ’70s. However, we need fats to function, so healthy fats like natural unprocessed nuts, olive oil and oily fish (great source of Omega 3) are a staple on the low carb diet.

As with any major lifestyle change that may affect your health, you should consult your doctor before you start. The low-carb way of eating isn’t for everyone, so if you on medication for diabetes, eg, insulin, or medication for high blood pressure, or if you are breastfeeding, you may need some preparation or adaptation.

To back up what I’m saying, GPs around the country are now starting to adopt the low-carb way of eating. I’m a big fan of Dr David Unwin and I’ve shared his articles before on my social media. However, I recently discovered the Freshwell programme run by a GP practice right here in Essex. Here is a link to their website: lowcarbfreshwell. co.uk. If you are really interested, there is an app you can download and explore - lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/app-2. They’ve also got a recipe book you can download for free.

The takeaway for today is to start simple. Limit the amount of starchy and unrefined foods you eat, up your vegetable intake and fill up with protein and healthy fats. And it’s not just me saying it - it’s backed by science. I’d love to hear how you get on so please drop me an email at beencouragedwellness@gmail.co.uk. Bon Appétit!

Some of the advantages of a low carb way of eating are as follows:

What Does the Spring Budget Mean for You?

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has now unveiled his Spring Budget. Which tax changes and new policies were introduced and what does it mean for your personal finances?

income tax system for the first time, or into higher tax bands over the next six years as wages increase. In addition, from next tax year the 45 percent additional rate threshold will be reduced from £150,000 to £125,140, dragging more people into the highest rate of tax.

Cost of Living

The Chancellor of the Exchequer set out a variety of measures aimed at tempting people back into work to boost Britain’s economy and provided some significant reforms of childcare, energy and fuel duty. Facing calls to address the sharp fall in living standards driven by the recent surge in inflation, there was some attention to the challenges faced by households up and down the country with measures addressing energy and fuel costs as well as the cost of childcare.

The Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) that currently limits the average annual household bill to £2,500 had been set to rise to £3,000 in April - an unwelcome squeeze for many struggling households. However, the present level of the EPG is to be extended for three months, thereby giving households greater affordability and certainty - at least in the short term. Mr Hunt also extended a cut in fuel duty which was due to expire at the end of March, a welcome move for motorists and hauliers dealing with elevated prices at the pumps.

The Chancellor also significantly expanded the scope of free childcare as part of the government’s drive to get more people into work. The plan will see 30 hours of free childcare a week for working parents being expanded to cover children from the age of nine months to two years old, but this will only be fully implemented by September 2025. At present, only parents with three and four-year-olds can get 30 hours of free childcare a week. This is a notable move, as many businesses have had difficulty recruiting suitable staff - a situation which has resulted in wage inflation and increased costs for businesses. More ‘wraparound’ care in schools at the start and end of each day was also promised.

Pension Changes

There were no new tax cuts, continuing the prudent approach Mr Hunt has pursued since taking the helm last autumn, though his changes to pension limits caught the eye. They are squarely aimed at getting over-50s back into work in an effort to tackle economic inactivity, and will allow all investors greater scope to rebuild pension pots following significant rises in the cost of living and a dip in markets over 2022.

The most surprising of these was the removal of the pension Lifetime Allowance (LTA). The LTA is the limit on how much you can accumulate across all your pensions before facing a tax charge. It had been frozen at £1.073m until 2026, but it will now disappear altogether from 6th April 2023. This could mean some people close to, or over, the limit could be encouraged back into work, or into working for longer, as they could accrue further pension provision without being penalised when they take benefits.

Meanwhile, the pension annual allowance, the maximum that can be paid into your pension each year including employer contributions, will be increased from £40,000 (subject to sufficient earned income in a tax year) to £60,000 from 6th April 2023. For those whose earnings vary greatly from year to year, this offers more scope to upsize contributions and better plan for retirement.

Personal Taxation

There were no major changes to ISAs or to personal taxation, which wasn’t a great surprise given that short-term tax cuts could fuel inflation and are at odds with the Chancellor’s strategy of targeting debt reduction and suppressing rising prices.

Income Tax Thresholds

Mr Hunt revealed that income tax thresholds would be frozen for even longer until April 2028, which will pull more people into the

This underscores the advantages of tax-efficient wrappers such as ISAs and pensions where income and investment gains aren’t taxable. Maximising pension contributions, where appropriate, looks more attractive than ever.

Tax on Dividends and Capital Gains

The tax-free allowance for share dividends is to be cut. The dividend allowance, which is on top of the income tax personal allowance, was reduced from £5,000 to £2,000 in 2017. It will now almost disappear altogether, falling to £1,000 next year and to £500 in 2024.

This means more people will end up paying tax on their dividends and have to fill in self-assessment tax returns each year. The tax rates on dividend income are unchanged, 8.75%, 33.75% and 39.35% for the basic, higher and additional rates respectively.

Dividends provide a regular income from investments and a way for self employed individuals to pay themselves via their own company. It emphasises the need to use tax-efficient ISA accounts to house investments, not only to save tax but to reduce fiddly administration each year.

The previously announced capital gains tax (CGT) changes covered in a prior article still stand, with the annual CGT allowance set to fall to £6,000 per person from 23/24, and then again to £3,000 in 24/25.

Graham Austin, Chartered FCSI Investment Director Graham.Austin@charles-stanley.co.uk

0207 149 6696

The value of investments can fall as well as rise. Investors may get back less than invested. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns. The information in this article is for general information purposes and is not a trading recommendation. Nothing in this article should be construed as personal advice based on your circumstances. No news or research item is a personal recommendation to deal.

Charles Stanley & Co. Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: 55 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 3AS.

The Singing Chef

Roast Dinner Wraps

Hope your all well and coping with 2023. Don’t forget to reach out to each other; just a little text or call each day to someone.

The cold weather we’ve recently had has been the perfect excuse for nice hot delicious dinners, and usually at our house Easter is the last real big roast before the transition into the garden for Sunday BBQs (and salad) begins.

Oh and let me thank my amazing friend and gardener Carol Chalkey for getting our garden lovely and ready for this spring and summer -

you are the best!

Easter roast and of course, leftovers... here we go again. We must not waste food as we all well know and this is a fantastic little idea for y’all to try.

Basically you put your roast veggies, meat and stuffing into a giant Yorkshire pudding (shop-bought or make yourself).

Wrap It Up

Put it in a sandwich toaster or on a pan with another pan on top to press down and seal.

Serve with roasties and a little gravy. This can also be packed up for lunch... What a treat! You’ll be the envy of the office or school canteen!

If you need one of these on your life you know where I am! For those that don’t know - O’connors!

Happy Easter!

Sarah is a singing and vocal coach based in Chelmsford and offers singing lessons to people of all ages and abilities. She has a brand new website at www.chelmsfordvocalcoach.co.uk, or you can email her at sarahmtfood@gmail.com.

Advertise with a classified advert for just

In March we had another one of our regular talks. These cover any subject from family history to wills and probate, to Essex Search and Rescue. This one was all about guide dogs and how the puppy raisers prepare the dogs for their eventual training to be a guide dog.

Buzz and Ted came to visit us with their puppy raisers Sarah and Abbie and were very well behaved. By the end though, the audience appreciated the dedication and hard work puppy raisers put in and also the reward they get from the relationship with the dogs. There has been a recent national increase in the number of people who have applied to be puppy raisers, so if you are interested, get in touch with www. guidedogs.org.uk.

New City Voices

New City Voices have another concert on Saturday 29th April and are please to be supporting another local organisation that supports its community. Later in the year, they have a joint concert with Men2Sing who are based in South Woodham Ferrers. Save the date - Saturday 9th September. Men2Sing, who are an allmale choir, will be singing songs from their repertoire as will New City Voices but, the best thing is the joint songs they will be singing. In the past when they have performed together, there can be anywhere from 60 to 90 people on stage harmonising. It can be equally powerful, emotional and uplifting. If you are interested in joining a choir, please get in touch using the contact details below or visit www.newcityvoices.co.uk.

www.mlct.org.uk enquiries@mlct.org.uk

07434 678 999

British Science Week at Mildmay Primary School

Whether you knew it or not, 13th - 17th March was British Science week, and we certainly made the most of it at Mildmay Primary School. Science co-ordinators Mrs Mixture and Mr Wills went to great lengths to arrange visits from a variety of guests so that the children could all learn more about animal classifications and species.

The team from All Things Alpaca brought Pluto and Poncho to school to meet the children. They were both fascinated by their own reflection in our windows and coped with the high winds brilliantly - there was a good discussion of recessive genes causing Pluto’s white fur and blue eyes. Children were amazed to learn that alpacas can see almost 360 degrees owing to uniquely designed eyes.

Later in the week the team were back with a minibeast zoo to introduce to the children, with giant African land snails, millipedes and a tarantula! You wouldn’t get me touching them, but the children

were inquisitive and very brave!

As if that wasn’t enough, we were able to welcome Liam from The Owl and Raptor Company who introduced a range of birds, including the very amusing burrowing owl (who prefers to walk rather than fly), to upper and lower school assemblies.

Add to this some fabulous scientific investigation and a great performance from our Year 5 engineers at the

E2V inter-school challenge (winning the catapult contest), and it has to be said that Mildmay Primary School’s first Science Week has been a massive success.

Dominic Mulholland, Headteacher

Twitter: @mildmayschool

www.mildmayprimary.org

Buzz and Ted, with puppy raisers Sarah and Abbie

Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, a focus for early aviation heritage in Essex and across the country, has launched an emergency fundraising drive.

Museum giants the Royal Air Force Museum have agreed to provide a very rare reproduction of Sopwith Tabloid number 168 - the only one in the world - to the treasured local museum, provided they can meet some of the transport and technical costs.

The museum - a charity and accredited by Arts Council Englandis battling to stay open for its army of supporters and volunteers, despite the 200%+ jump in power costs and other expenses.

Ian Flint, Chief Executive Officer of Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, said: “Our museum spends its time protecting the heritage of our county and our nation. We are dedicated to preserving these rare objects for us and everyone to see, forever. We are really keen to get

the Sopwith to Stow, but we have a £2,500 funding gap that we need everyone’s help to fill. Other costs are being split between the RAF museum and ourselves, but we can’t do it without the help of our community.”

You can read more about this unique aircraft and donate at gofund. me/af85f455 or search for Stow Maries on gofundme.com.

The site is now gearing up for its extensive events programme and volunteer recruitment drive. For more details check www.stowmaries. org.uk.

Easter - Jesus is Alive!

Easter, for those like me who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that God raised him from the dead, is the primary celebration of the year. You might think it’s Christmasbut actually, Easter is far more significant. Christmas would mean nothing if Jesus Christ was executed on the cross and stayed dead. But that’s not what happened. Jesus Christ was raised to life again by God. Not resuscitated, resurrected. The difference is important. Everyone who is resuscitated dies again. Jesus Christ was resurrected and never died again - he is still alive today and will be forever.

Some people think that this is just wishful thinking. But let me give you three major pieces of evidence that point to the only logical conclusion that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

First: Evidence in the Bible. In the gospels (books in the Bible called Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) we have four slightly different accounts of Jesus’ resurrection, which give an air of authenticity (if someone was making this up, they’d make sure their story was watertight - exactly the same across all four gospels). Also, the first people to see the risen Lord Jesus were women - in the culture of the time, women were thought to be unreliable witnesses (again, bad start if you’re making this all up!).

Second: The tomb was empty. It’s pretty much universally agreed by historians (Christian and non-Christian alike) that the tomb was

empty. What happened to the body? Early Jewish arguments against Jesus being alive assumed an empty tomb and accused Jesus’ disciples of stealing his body. If the Jewish authorities knew the body was still in the tomb, they could have just produced Jesus’ dead body - but they couldn’t, because it was empty.

Third: Jesus’ disciples. Jesus’ disciples kept telling everyone that Jesus Christ was alive - even when it cost them their lives. Most of them were martyred (murdered by the state for saying that Jesus had been brought back to life by God). If they knew it was all made up, why were they willing to die for a lie? That would be nonsense.

This Easter, let me ask you: What do you believe about Jesus Christ? Have you looked at the evidence yourself? If not, why not this year?

NB: I’ll be on sabbatical for the next three editions of the Moulsham Times, and James Bell, Youth and Community Pastor at Tile Kiln Church, will be writing in my stead.

Tim Goodall Pastor, Tile Kiln Church

tim.goodall@tilekilnchurch.org.uk

07821 866 301

YouTube: tinyurl.com/y24qlkvx

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tilekilnchurch www.tilekilnchurch.org.uk

Dementia Friends Training Session

Tile Kiln Church’s recent informative Dementia Friends Training Session enabled 38 people to become Dementia Friends. Thanks to Mark Neville, Dementia Friendly Communities Coordinator (Alzheimer’s Society). Mark has since provided advice and support to the church which is currently enthusiastically working towards Dementia Friendly Church accreditation.

If anyone, any age is looking for a relaxed and warm space, then do pop in to the church via the car park door on a Wednesday, anytime between 9.15am and 12noon. It is great to see all ages enjoying a cuppa and a chat together. The people hosting are among those who have recently completed Dementia Friends training, they are very welcoming and make excellent coffee and tea. We hope that all will feel welcomed and comfortably included at Sunday services too.

Tile Kiln Church will be open on Saturday May 6th to celebrate the

coronation of King Charles’s lll. There will be TV coverage of the event, tea and cake and a few children’s craft activities. Come and join us in celebrating this historical event.

For further information about Tile Kiln Church, future events or details of our Dementia Friendly Church Action plan, please contact us via the website at www.tilekilnchurch.org.uk.

Quiz Time - By John Theedom

Who performed these songs?

Manic Monday

When Doves Cry

Our House Design for Life

Song 2

Green Door

New York, New York

Bad Habits

Shake It Off Roar

Which football teams play here?

Selhurst Park

King Power Stadium

Bloomfield Road

Deepdale

Liberty Stadium

Oakwell

Abbey Stadium

Globe Arena

Carrow Road

Kenilworth Road

Who is the double act partner of these?

Help disabled adults at our Create & Connect Club

We at Caffe Marconi are passionate about advocating for people with different challenges and abilities and want to help people access fun, social and engaging activities.

On Thursday mornings, we welcome adults with additional needs into the café for arts, crafts, quizzes, exercise workshops, and lots of tea and chat!

We are looking for cheerful, creative volunteers to help with run these sessions.

Social media volunteer - Millrace Furniture Project

We are looking for a volunteer to help develop and update the social media for this local charity which helps people recover from mental health issues. You’d need to have a good working knowledge of the internet and social media.

Are you passionate about arts and culture?

Can you give people a warm, kind, non-judgemental welcome? Are you passionate about sharing arts and culture with those who don’t usually get to access it?

Culture Chelmsford and partners are working together to transform an empty shop in the Meadows shopping centre into a warm, buzzing

and artistic space for vulnerable people and families in our district. We need volunteers to help with artistic activities, welcome people in - and make tea and toast!

Community volunteer - supporting older people - Independent Age Can you provide friendship, support and encouragement to an older person who has no one else to talk to?

This may include meeting for a coffee and cake, going for a walk, accompanying them to an appointment or a club, helping them do their shopping, or just calling for a chat. We give you all the support and training you need, and this is a flexible role to fit neatly into your life.

Volunteer car driver - Chelmsford Community Transport

We need friendly, patient volunteers to help drive vulnerable people to social clubs, shops, and medical appointments in Chelmsford.

You will drive your own car and transport mostly elderly people (prearranged) to various places and ensure that they can maintain good quality of life. Interesting conversation guaranteed! Expenses reimbursed.

English for Women – Zoom volunteer

English for Women is looking for friendly and approachable volunteers to provide support to those in our communities who speak little or no English via online groups as well as face-to-face sessions.

With a positive outlook and an enthusiasm to support others, you will help to reduce the isolation of women (or men at our English for All sessions) from around the world.